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Visit the
Donner
Memorial State
Park and
Donner
Lake Vacation
Rentals
websites
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Donner
Lake
Location:
Nevada County/Truckee
Description:
Donner Lake is located about 100 miles east of
Sacramento via Interstate 80 and near the town of
Truckee. Donner Memorial State Park at the East end
of the lake offers the summer vacationer
opportunities for camping, picnicking, boating,
fishing, water-skiing, and hiking. In winter,
visitors can cross-country ski and snowshoe on
trails and enjoy the season's beauty. Visitors are
welcome year-round at the Emigrant Trail Museum and
at the Pioneer Monument, built to commemorate those
who emigrated to California from the east in the
mid-1800's. Included in the museum are displays and
information about one of the earliest pioneer wagon
trains, the Donner Party, forced by weather to camp
at the east end of Donner Lake in the winter of
1846-47, resulting in death for many of them.
Nearby Truckee is a fascinating historic town
four miles east of Donner Lake. The 150-year-old
community was an old world playground and is now a
present day recreation destination. A map available
from the Chamber of Commerce will guide you through
a 45-minute walking tour of this town that was the
first major settlement in the Sierras. Truckee also
served as the gateway to the West for the pioneers
who helped build the Trans-continental Railroad.
Some of the now abandoned train tunnels perched on
the cliffs high above the lake can be explored on
foot.
Accommodations:
A sample of the many unique nearby places to
stay include the Historic Rainbow Lodge at Soda
Springs which overlooks the Yuba River, Shinneyboo
Creek Log Cabins on the Western slope of Donner
Pass, Donner Lake Inn across the street from the
lake, and numerous vacation rental houses within
walking distance of the shoreline.
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